Trapezoidal sliding window construction



c. w. AVERY TRAPEZ OIDAL SLIDING WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Sept. 1, 1931.

Filed June 26, 1950 R. m we n N6 A e Y .MB C

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 Unitas s'ra'rss PATENT QFFICE CLARENCE w. A Y, or DETROI MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR To THE MURRAY GORPORA- ION F AMERIoan CORPORATION OF DELAWARE QTRAPEZOIDAL sLInING WI DOW CONSTRUCTION Application filed -Tune 26,

- Genuine advantages, in improved vision being obtainable'bythe use, even upon closed cars, of Windshields supportedby comparatively slender and backwardly inclined posts, it has been recognized as desirable to provide car doors with window openings whose form and size shall accord with the general object referredto; and the present invention' aims generally at the inexpensive provision of windoworganizations suitable for 7 use in conjunction with comparatively ample trapezoidal openings in car doors whose upper portions are provided with backwardly inclined forward edges,the top and bottom edges of the window openings, and

the corresponding edges ofthe plates constituting the windows themselves, being ordinarily substantially horizontal and parallel, :and the rear edges thereof being goordinarily substantially vertical, I even though the forward edges are backwardly inclined and upwardly convergent in relation thereto. Y i a 'It will be obvious that, in the absence of special safeguarding means, a direct vertical movement ofatrapezoidal window of the general character referred to is liable to expose not only the top edge but'the inclined end edge of said window; and it is a particular object of the present invention, (preferably employing one straight and substantially vertical glass runway and one bent glass runway whose lower 'portionissubstantially parallel with said straight runway) not only to minimize the obstructive effect of frame elements at the front end of each window Opening and to avoid any looseness of parts and any uncertainty of action, but at all times to protect and conceal both of the end edges of the glass plate used as a window; and, in preferred embodiments of the invention, use may be made of movable means including a so-called glass channel which is resiliently'advanced, for so guiding and guarding said window as to obviate exposure'of either end edge thereof even when the window is lowered to an extreme position.

For the purposes'referred to,use may be made, at the front edge of a window open- 1930. Serial No. 464,035.

ing, of nested channel elements,-an inner or cushioning glass-channel element being received, when two channel elements are employed at the same end of a window, within an outer or runway channel element and bemg not only movable relatively to said outer channel element, orrelativelyto an equivalent fixed part, but resiliently advanced relatively thereto.

Proposals having heretofore been made which require a careful cutting of irregularly polygonal glass shapes (from five to seven sides or edges being separately ,perfected as to length and as .to angular relationships) or which tolerate the mentioned lateral gapmg effect along an inclined edge or near one corner of a window whenever it is lowered, it is an object'of this invention to employ atrapezoidal window in which two'of the corners may be rectangular, said window being of substantially the same general configuration as the opening therefor and only a top edge thereof being ever exposed; and, in-preferred embodiments ofthe invention, the guard element for the single inclined edge of the window being preferably in the form of a flexible channel which 'may be locally bellied, and which-becomes visible only whenthe window is lowered, use may be made ofouter or main channel elements whichdiiferpfrom known types mainly in that one ofjsaid outer channel elementsis provided with a mentioned bend, at an intermediate level, and is provided also with one or more leaf springs, or with like means functionally interposed between nested channel elements, adapted resiliently to advance or locallyto belly an inner channelelement. Other objects of the present invention, which has the merit of permitting a substan- .tially verticalv and rectilinear movement of the window, requiring'nounusual mechanism either for the guidance or the manipulation of the window and permitting most or all parts of the door to be inexpensively provided from sheet metal, may be best appreciated from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the appended claimsand the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 may be regarded as an inside view of a right door adapted to be hung from one edge and shaped in adaption to use in connection with an inclined windshield post (not shown), parts being broken away to show the positions of interior elements of one window organization illustrative of the present invention when the window is approximately open.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 butshowing some features of modification (two springs) and assuming a relationship of parts which result from a closing of the wnidow.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, on a larger scale, taken substantially as suggested by the line 8-3 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section, taken substantially as indicated by the line el4 of Fig. 1, with parts broken away.

7 Fig. 5 is a vertical section, taken substantially as suggested by the line 55 of Fig. 3, with parts broken away.

Referring first to the more general features of the door D, it is shown as provided with a window opening 0 for a window W,said opening and said window being rendered trapezoidal in outline by a rearward inclination of the forward edges thereof; and this specific door happens to be so formed from sheet metal as to provide a plural-ply fiat flange F at the forward edge thereof, a like flange F at the top thereof and a stepped flange F at the rearward edge thereof,some preferred details of construction of this door being incidentally indicated in Figs. 3 and 4; but the present invention should be understood to relate more particularly to features whose relationships are generally shown in the cutaway portions of Figs. 1 and 2 and whose details, in one embodiment, are separately shown in succeeding figures. 1

A top edge 10 and a bottom edge 11 of the window lV may be assumed to be substantially parallel with one another and with a top edge 12 and a bottom edge 13 of the window opening 0; but, a rear edge 14 of the opening 0 being shown as substantially vertical and substantially parallel with a guide 15 receiving the corresponding edge 16 of the window W, a forward and inclined edge 17 of the opening 0 and the corresponding edge 19 of the window W (although remaining, in preferred embodiments of the invention, substantially parallel with one another) will be seen to be downwardly divergent relatively to the respective rear edges 14 and 16; and the present invention will be understood to aim at obviating an exposure of the edge 19 (as a result of lowering the window W while retaining the edge 16 within the channel 15) even when the top edge 10 of the window approaches the bottom edge 13 of the window openings.

For the purpose last referred to, use may be made of means including an inner or glass channel provided with means for resiliently advancing the same toward the mentioned channel 15; and, in the illustrated embodiments, this advancing means has taken the form of one or more leaf springs 21, supported from some suitable fixed part. As a matter of convenience, the latter may have the form of abent upper portion 22a of an outer or runway channel 22. This may include a lower portion 22?; secured (by any preferred means, not shown) to door D,-at least said upper portion being provided with means (such as depressions 22c and rivets 23,) for the reception and retention of the mentioned leaf springs 21. Positions to which two such springs may be brought upon the elevation of the window W are illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 will be seen to suggest the employment of but one of the leaf springs 21; but it will be obvious that, depending upon circumstances, any desired number may be employed; and obvious also that inner channel element 20, or its equivalent, should be flexible and/or so secured (rivets 24, at one or both ends thereof, being so used as not to forbid a bellying or other advance) as to permit it always slidably to receive the edge 19'of the window W; and Figs. 3 and 5 will be seen to suggest the employment, locally or throughout the length of the inner channel 20, of some suitable reinforcing or back ing element 25 in at least the regions of Eric tional contact between the spring or springs 21 and the back of the channel 20, or its equivalent.

As will be understood from the foregoing, the window held or braced by the flexible channel and its actuating springs against any undesired tilting, may be manipulated by any usual or preferred mechanism',--with which a connection may be effected by means including interfitting bottom channel ele-' ments similar in general character to those shown at 26 and 27, Fig. 4c; and in the illustrated embodiment, the power of the spring or springs 21 will be understood to be sufficient to cause a central bellying of the innor channel element 20, or its equivalent, whereby the edge 19 of the window W is always safeguarded and concealed,-said inner channel element itself becoming visible, if at all, only when the window W is lowered to a position such as that in which it is shown in Fig. 1, or to a lower position.

Although the foregoing description has included details of but one embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood not only that various features thereof might be independently employed but also that numerous modifications, additional to any sugguiding and guarding said edge of said win-.

dow during a lowering thereof as to maintam said edge concealed in all positions thereof.

2. In an automotive vehicle door whosev upper portion is provided with atrapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,-a rear edgev of said window being slidably received in a substantially vertical guide.

3. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door, for so guilding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,-each end edge of said window being at all times received in a guide therefor.

4:. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window andsaid door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,each end edge of said window being at all times received in a guide therefor, and one of said guides being provided with means for its resilient advance.

5. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a'movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly 1ncl1ned: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door, for

so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edgeconcealedin all positions thereof,said window being provided with one straight glass runway and one bent glass runway. I

- 6. In-an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatlvely to both sald window and said door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,-said window being provided with one straight glass runway and onebent glass runway, and said front edge guarding means being received in one of said runways. e

"7. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,--said edge guarding means includ ing aglass channel. 1 I

8. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window openingfor a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and afront edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed inall positions thereof,said edge guarding means including a glass channel received in abent runway.

9. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is providedwith a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door, for so guiding and guarding sald edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to anaintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,said edge guarding means including a glass'channel received in a bent runway and provided with means for resillently advancing the same relatively thereto.

' 10. In an automotive, vehicle door whose ipper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for amovable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a'front edge of sand window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,said edge guarding means includ ing a glass channel received in a runway carried b said door.

11. n an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relative- 1y to both said Window and said door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,said edge guarding means including a glass channel received in a runway carried by said door and provided with means to retain a spring in engagement with said channel.

12. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereon-said edge guarding means including a glass channel received in a runway carried by said door and provided with means to retain a spring in engagement with said channel and functionally interposed between said runway and said channel.

13. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a front edge of said open ing and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movablerelatively to both said window and said door, for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,said edge guarding means including a glass channel received in a runway carried by said door'and provided with attachment means near the ends thereof.

14. In an automotive vehicle door whose upper portion is provided with a trapezoidal window opening for a movable window of like configuration, a frontedge of said opening and a front edge of said window being similarly inclined: means, movable relatively to both said window and said door. for so guiding and guarding said edge of said window during a lowering thereof as to maintain said edge concealed in all positions thereof,said edge guarding means including a glass channel received in a runway carried by said door and provided with at- 'tachment'means near the ends thereof and with means tending to advance an intermediate portion thereof.

CLARENCE w. AVERY. 

